The Tennessee Titans find themselves halfway through the season in a similar position to where they started: needing to figure out what they have in quarterback Will Levis. It would be even better for them if Levis can start and finish a game with a win.
At 2-6, the Titans need to evaluate what the 2023 second-round pick out of Kentucky can do in the offense run by first-year coach Brian Callahan.
Callahan was hired in part for his offensive expertise, after five years as the coordinator in Cincinnati, and his ability to work with quarterbacks.
Levis injured his right shoulder on September 30 and lost the only game he started after the team’s early bye week in Week 5. He has since watched Mason Rudolph start the last three games, with two losses followed by a 20-17 overtime win against the New England Patriots.
Callahan is hopeful that Levis will be back for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3).
The Titans showed some resilience, giving Callahan his first home win. Despite being one of the NFL’s biggest spenders in the offseason, the team had often struggled to bounce back after mistakes.
“I’ve been waiting to feel that sort of all season long, and we haven’t done a very good job,” Callahan said Monday. “That was the first time this season where I haven’t felt like, ‘Oh no! Here comes the negative stuff.’ Our guys finally got to the point where it was like, ‘No, we got you.’”
The defense, led by first-year coordinator Dennard Wilson, has been strong. The Titans are currently ranked first in the NFL for the fewest yards allowed, giving up just 269.1 yards per game.
They also lead the league in passing yards allowed, giving up only 155.8 yards per game, and in first downs allowed. On third downs, they are second-best, allowing conversions only 31.25% of the time.
The Titans have recorded at least six tackles for loss in every game so far this season. They made history by becoming the first team in the NFL since 2001 to achieve this in their first eight games. Denver held the previous record with seven straight games in 2015.
One area where the defense still needs improvement is taking the ball away. However, they made progress by doubling their season total in turnovers with three takeaways against the Patriots. Hooker had both interceptions in the game and leads the team with three interceptions.
What needs help is the offense. The Titans are ranked two spots lower than last season in passing offense, averaging only 170.8 yards per game, which is second-to-last in the NFL.
They traded away three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas City, and Treylon Burks, their first-round pick from 2022, is on injured reserve.
Even worse, a team that scored at least 20 points six times last season has only reached that mark twice under new offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. Their best offensive performance came in a win at Miami, and they needed overtime to score 20 points against the New England Patriots.
